US delegation led by Vance now flying to Pakistan for talks with Iran — Trump

Lead

US Vice President JD Vance has been reported as leading a US delegation to Islamabad for negotiations with Iran, though conflicting accounts have emerged about the status of the visit. Iran has not confirmed whether it will participate in the talks, which are aimed at ending the ongoing US-Iran war.

Coverage Comparison

Several outlets reported on April 20-21 that Vance was en route to Pakistan. The Jerusalem Post, citing US President Donald Trump's interview with the New York Post, said the delegation "is en route to Pakistan and expected to land soon." TASS similarly reported that an American delegation led by Vance was flying to Pakistan and expected to land within hours. Trump was quoted as saying, "They're heading over now. They'll be there tonight," and expressed confidence that further negotiations with Tehran would take place.

However, other reports indicated uncertainty. ABC Australia reported that Vance had arrived in Islamabad on April 11 for the first round of talks, but the current visit's timing was less clear. Al Jazeera noted on April 21 that Vance was "preparing to fly to Islamabad" and that Pakistan was "racing against time" to convince Iran to join, while Iran continued to "publicly insist that it has no plans to return to the negotiating table."

By April 21, reports surfaced that the trip might be canceled. Jerusalem Post reported that Iran had decided not to attend the second round of talks, citing Tasnim news agency, and that Vance's trip had been canceled. TASS reported on April 22 that the White House had confirmed the cancellation, quoting a White House official saying, "In light of President Trump's Truth Social post confirming the United States is awaiting a unified proposal from the Iranians, the trip to Pakistan will not be happening today."

Deutsche Welle reported on April 24 that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vance would not be heading to Pakistan "for now," but that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be dispatched. Leavitt was quoted as saying, "Everybody will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary. The president is dispatching Steve and Jared to see what they have to say."

Key Claims

• Vance's Role in Talks: Multiple outlets reported that Vance was to lead the US delegation in negotiations with Iran in Islamabad. The Jerusalem Post and TASS cited Trump's comments confirming the planned trip.
• Ceasefire Expiration: A two-week ceasefire, announced by Trump on April 7, was set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, according to Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle. Trump later indicated he had extended the deadline, as reported by TASS.
• Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Al Jazeera reported that the US had imposed a naval blockade on Iran-linked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran had fired at ships trying to transit the waterway. The outlet also reported that the US had seized an Iranian vessel, which Tehran called "piracy."
• Iran's Position: Several outlets reported that Iran had not confirmed participation in the talks. Al Jazeera quoted Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, as accusing the US of wanting Iran to surrender and saying Iran was preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." France 24 reported that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had said Iran did not want war with the US and Israel.
• Mixed Signals from Trump: The Hindu and Deutsche Welle reported that Trump had given mixed messages, saying he was "under no pressure whatsoever" to make a deal while also warning of "lots of bombs" if no agreement was reached before the ceasefire deadline.

Perspectives

The material includes distinct viewpoints from US and Iranian officials, as well as from Pakistan's mediation efforts.

• US Perspective: Trump has expressed confidence in reaching a deal but has also warned of military escalation. The White House has indicated flexibility in sending envoys rather than Vance, suggesting a willingness to adjust strategy.
• Iranian Perspective: Iranian officials have insisted they will not negotiate under the shadow of threats and have accused the US of seeking surrender. The decision not to attend the second round, as reported by Tasnim, reflects a hardline stance.
• Pakistani Mediation Role: Pakistan has been actively trying to bring both sides to the table, with officials working behind the scenes to convince Tehran to participate, as reported by Al Jazeera.